Welcome to the World's First Great Big Vegetable Challenge! Six years ago we went on a vegetable journey of a lifetime. A 7 year year old boy named Freddie and his mother faced up to the challenge of turning him from a Vegetable-Phobic into a boy who will eat and even enjoy some of life's leafier pleasures. We ate through the alphabet of vegetables...and returned to tell the tale. Join our Great Big Veg Challenge!

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Fly me to the moon...with rocket pizzas

"On the continent, people have good food;In England people have good table manners."

( George Mikes. How to be an Alien)

Actually in England, if our household is anything to go by, good table manners are hard to come by. One byproduct of the great big vegetable challenge is that we all eat together as a family far more often. You'd think this would stimulate interesting conversation. It does - but it also means we have to watch each other eat.

"So what did you do at school today? Can you please use a knife and fork."

"I thought we could go and see a film. Would you please not lick the plate clean."

"You do it."

"No I don't."

"I saw you."

Its a truce. It is disgusting to lick a plate clean at the table. But I console myself that at least it means someone is enjoying the food. A year ago, I hated seeing the plate full of food at the end of a meal. We've come a long way with plate licking...

Geek and Nerd did warn me that in her household, rocket pizzas are "inhaled" rather than eaten. Joanna told us about a pizza bianca, a white pizza base with parmesan with a drizzle of olive oil and rocket, capers, raisins and a little anchovy scattered on top. These were inhaled.

Lord, what I would give for children that licked their plates clean. I'm only half kidding. You should see what passes for polite conversation and table manners in our house. I keep telling myself not to expect formal etiquette from a three year old and a one and a half year old, but civil behavior at the table seems like eons away.

We continue to soldier on though. I felt like the angels were singing the first time I heard my son actually use the word please at the table. That little bit of courtesy only took about ten thousand requests on my part before it sunk it.

Wow! Charlotte, You really HAVE come a LONG way in a year. That's fantastic.

Funny thing my 18 year old said recently ... I didn't teach her table manners, I laughed to myself and thought how true, but hadn't realized it. I was more concerned about the quality of the food we were all eating. I didn't care how they ate it ... fingers, forks... just that they ate their veggies!

I am sure that in some countries it would be considered good manners to lick your plate clean:D In my "I can eat anything and not have it go to my hips days" I could sop up the leftovers with a crusty bread:D

Thanks for looking by my blog and your kind comment. I emailed a long reply but it wouldn't send! Just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed reading your blog - especially as Jacob is a very fussy eater which is a real challenge with his diet now. Loved the idea of mince with rhubarb - I'm always trying to "hide" fruit and veg in his meals.Gina

Gina,Nice to hear from you and I hope things with Jacob are becoming better.The Rhubarb and Mince is delicious. Surprisingly so!CharlotteBellini Valli - I remember those days - in the distant distant past...Jessy - they are. What kind of dog is Winnie?